To maintain site/extent of disease and medication consistent among groups, the design is a double blind crossover placebo-controlled trial.

If mild anaemia, patients are randomized to 300 mg of ferrous fumarate or placebo for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks of washout period after which patients will crossover the opposite treatments for another 4 weeks.

If moderate anaemia, patients will receive 600 mg of ferrous fumarate for 10 weeks. They are randomized to either vitamin E (800 IU) or placebo for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks of washout period after which patients will crossover the opposite treatments for another 4 weeks

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00152841